The country faces a low birth rate and estimates put the population down to 88 million in 2065
Tomohiro Ohsumi / POOL / AFP
The Japanese government is offering 1 million yen (approx. BRL 41,000) for children’s families who agree to move out Tokyo from the 2023 financial year. This is a strategy of Japan to try to stem depopulation in other areas of the country, the local press reported. Currently, authorities are already offering 300,000 yen (R$12,300) worth of financial assistance, but they have tripled to encourage people to go to depopulated areas. This funding has been in effect since 2019. Around 1,300 cities have already joined the initiative. Government financial support can be even greater if families start a rural business, however it is necessary for families to stay in the chosen locations for at least five years. Japan has a low birth rate, but on the other hand a high life expectancy. As young people grow up, rural areas become depopulated as they turn to urban centers for opportunities. It is estimated that by 2065, if things continue as they have been, the country will only have 88 million inhabitants.